Honda CR-V

Upper trims sport a 190-hp, 1.5-liter turbo. A continuously variable transmission is standard and works well with both engines. Fuel economy from either engine is impressive. Handling is more nimble and sure-footed, and the firm ride is steady and compliant. Road noise has been suppressed, resulting is a quieter cabin. The interior is very comfortable and roomy, particularly the rear seat, and more upscale. An available 7-inch touch-screen infotainment system offers Android Auto and Apple CarPlay compatibility and Garmin navigation, but its touch screen logic isn't particularly intuitive. Forward collision warning, automatic emergency braking, and blind-spot warning come standard on all but the base LX model. Updates for 2020 include a hybrid version added to the lineup; it returned 35 mpg overall in our tests. Also new is that the base LX model gets the EX's 1.5-liter turbo engine, and the Honda Sensing suite of advanced safety features is now standard on all trim lines.

The 2015 freshening brought a redesigned 2.4-liter four-cylinder mated to a new continuously variable transmission (CVT). Fuel economy improved by two mpg to 24 mpg overall with all-wheel-drive. Handling was improved, but the ride became stiffer. Road noise is slightly reduced, but remains noticeable, a perennial CR-V complaint. This update also brought more equipment, including a standard backup camera, a power driver seat for the EX, and an available power rear gate. EX and higher trims gained an unintuitive touchscreen infotainment system and Honda's LaneWatch, which shows what lurks on the right side of the car when signaling to the right. We find this system distracting; it's no substitute for a real blind spot detection system that covers both sides. Honda Sensing advanced safety equipment, including forward-collision warning and automatic emergency braking, is available on the top-trim Touring. Added reinforcements from the 2015 update improved the CR-V's performance in the demanding IIHS small overlap crash test.